Inverness CT 3 - 1 St. Mirren

League Match
Saturday, March 1st, 2003, 3:00 PM at Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
Attendance: 1,973
Referee: D MacDonald
Inverness CT  St. Mirren

Goalscorers
Paul Ritchie (25)
Paul Ritchie (49)
Paul Ritchie (55)
McHale (13)

Team Managers
John Robertson Unknown.

Starting Eleven
Mark Brown
Ross Tokely
Grant Munro
Stuart Golabek
Stuart McCaffrey
Barry Robson
David Bagan
Roy McBain
Richie Hart
Dennis Wyness
Paul Ritchie
Robertson
Mitchell
Lowing
Dempsie
Denham
Broadfoot
Gillies
McHale
McLean
Roberts
McGinty

Substitutes
Michael Fraser
Graeme Stewart
Anthony Low
Liam Keogh
Steven Hislop
Lappin
Dunbar
McGowan
Cameron
Bald

Substitutions
Graeme Stewart for Stuart Golabek (62)
Steven Hislop for Paul Ritchie (77)
Liam Keogh for David Bagan (81)
Lappin -> Lowing (59)
Dunbar -> McLean (69)
McGowan -> Denham (80)

Bookings
David Bagan (60)
Graeme Stewart (60)
Mitchell
Dempsie
McGowan

Red Cards
None. None.
Appearances & Goals To Date
Mark Brown (GK) 31 apps -
Ross Tokely 226 apps16 goals
Grant Munro 59 apps1 goal
Stuart Golabek 110 apps1 goal
Stuart McCaffrey 90 apps1 goal
David Bagan 65 apps11 goals
Roy McBain 111 apps5 goals
Barry Robson 155 apps25 goals
Richie Hart 25 apps6 goals
Dennis Wyness 146 apps77 goals
Paul Ritchie 74 apps37 goals
Graeme Stewart (sub) 34 apps2 goals
Liam Keogh (sub) 21 apps -
Steven Hislop (sub) 4 apps -

Starting Lineup
Youngest Player:Ross Tokely (23 years 364 days)
Oldest Player:David Bagan (2004 years 212 days)
Average Player Age:23 years 364 days
Domestic Players:11 (100.00 % of starting eleven)

Matchday Squad
Youngest Player:Ross Tokely (23 years 364 days)
Oldest Player:Paul Ritchie (2004 years 212 days)
Average Player Age:23 years 364 days
Domestic Players:16 (100.00 % of matchday squad)

First Team Debuts

Milestones

Not a classic match but a welcome three points after the disappointment of midweek. A Paul Ritchie hat trick completed a clean sweep of wins against the Saints in 2002/03. Bobby Mann missed his first match of the season and Grant Munro came in to partner Stuart McCaffrey in central defence. Charlie Christie was also missing and David Bagan took over the no 10 shirt. Both ‘keepers had good saves before Saints took an unexpected lead after 13 minutes. A cross from the left was headed into the path of Paul McHale and his 15 yard low shot bobbled past Mark Brown. Ritchie equalised in 25 minutes with a well placed header from 8 yards after a precision cross from Barry Robson on the left. The move was nearly repeated two minutes later but Ritchie flicked it past. Right on the half time whistle a Richie Hart shot took two deflections then slipped past. The match started to turn the way of the home side four minutes into the second half. Ritchie sent Robson away down the left and the expected offside flag was not given. He hit a low ball into the box and Ritchie swept it into the net from the penalty spot. The striker’s hat trick was completed in 55 minutes but the architect was Stuart Golabek who was injured in the process. Golabek ran through from midfield and passed to Ritchie at the same time as going down in pain from a crunching tackle. Ritchie ran on and stroked the ball past Kris Robertson for 3-1. Saints rarely troubled Brown after that but in 70 minutes the ‘keeper had to be quick to tip over an 18 yard shot from Mark Roberts. With 10 minutes left Saints’ substitute James McGowan was booked for a foul on Robson after being on the pitch for less than a minute. Robson sent the resultant 25 yard free kick over the bar. In a last gasp move Brown blocked a low shot from Jamie Dunbar with his legs.

None.

Pld W D L F A +/- Pts
1. Falkirk 25 16 5 4 55 25 30 53
2. St. Johnstone 26 14 6 6 35 19 16 48
3. Inverness CT 25 14 4 7 55 32 23 46
4. Clyde 24 13 6 5 40 23 17 45
5. Ayr United 25 10 8 7 28 24 4 38
6. Queen of the South 25 7 9 9 34 42 -8 30
7. St. Mirren 26 7 7 12 33 55 -22 28
8. Ross County 26 6 8 12 30 29 1 26
9. Alloa Athletic 25 4 7 14 22 53 -31 19
10. Arbroath 25 3 4 18 23 53 -30 13